Last week, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted their 2025 Development Camp from Wednesday, July 2nd, to Sunday, July 6th.
On ice sessions concluded with a five-on-five scrimmage at the end of the 2025 Development Camp at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, NJ. Daniel Brière and Keith Jones split the roster into teams to compete:
Team Brière
- Jack Berglund, Sawyer Boulton, Ritter Coombs, Nick DeSantis, Karsen Dorwart, Conor Frenette, Porter Martone, Owen McLaughlin, Jack Murtagh, Jack Nesbitt, Noah Powell, Santeri Sulku, Max Westergård
- Émile Chouinard, Hunter McDonald, Ty Murchison, Cole Tuminaro, Luke Vlooswyk
- Carson Bjarnason, Ajay White
Team Jones
- Alex Bump, Alex Čiernik, Matthew Gard, Matteo Giampa, Devin Kaplan, Cole Knuble, Cash Koch, Jett Luchanko, Ryan MacPherson, Nathan Quinn, Heikki Ruohonen, Justin Solovey, Shane Vansaghi
- Jack Anderson, Alex Carbonneau, Eric Charpentier, Spencer Gill, Tim Lovell, Andre Mondoux
- Ryan Cameron, Waylon Esche
Team Brière came away with the victory, 4-3, over Team Jones to finish the 2025 Development Camp. Despite the number of camp invites on Team Jones, Team Brière once trailed, 3-0. Nesbitt scored the game-winner in overtime.
Throughout camp, prospects made their first impressions. Martone, Bump, and Luchanko headline as three forwards vying for a spot with the Flyers in the 2025-2026 lineup. Dorwart, McDonald, Bjarnason, and Kaplan are more prospects that Philadelphia likes. These were the prospects to keep an ear out for and an eye on.
Porter Martone
Martone needs to have a conversation regarding his immediate future. He is striving to make the NHL despite the option to head to the NCAA, which would be the perfect route of development after his OHL dominance with the Brampton Steelheads. Flyers Nation‘s own, Adam Waxman, is already on the coverage.
A season in the NCAA, likely at Penn State, will better prepare Martone for his NHL debut.
Overall, Martone had a good camp. During the scrimmage, he didn’t quite unlock his offense, but his defensive transition seemed better than advertised.
There’s an avenue to join the Flyers if Martone doesn’t head to the NCAA. If Martone doesn’t decide to go to the NCAA, he’ll commit to the NHL by attending the 2025 Flyers Training Camp. Tyson Foerster will miss time. It’s a risk to compete for a middle-six role outright because the NCAA would be critical to development.
Alex Bump
Bump had a solid camp. He is more likely to be recalled, especially if the preference for Martone is the NCAA.
Now, here’s the unpopular opinion:
During the 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, Bump showed his playmaking capability in flashes. Many would agree that Bump didn’t miss a beat during the 2025 Development Camp. However, unless he’s a standout at the 2025 Flyers Training Camp, starting 2025-2026 on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms would be right. If he catches fire in the AHL, then serve Bump his NHL debut.
Like Martone, Bump is pushing for the NHL lineup on opening night. The difference is that Brière and Jones will use the ‘white-glove treatment’ with Martone, discussing a more fluid course of development. Bump is close, probably logging a few NHL games this season.
Jett Luchanko
Luchanko makes the most sense to crack the NHL lineup on the opening night of 2025-2026. In 4GP, he looked defensively responsible and proved he could skate in the NHL.
He’s a playmaker. Luchanko could be plugged into the NHL lineup immediately if Martone goes through the NCAA route and if Bump takes more time in the AHL. Of the three forwards (Martone, Bump, Luchanko) seemingly headlining the ‘who could break into the NHL lineup’ conversation, Luchanko represents small risk, high reward.
If Luchanko begins to reward Philadelphia on the powerplay, it’ll be hard to lend him back to the Phantoms.
Karsen Dorwart
Dorwart played at Michigan State last season with Vansaghi. Now, they’re teammates again. However, when Team Brière opposed Team Jones, they were against each other.
One of a few forwards to make an NHL debut last season with the Flyers, Dorwart is trending toward Lehigh Valley this season.
Hunter McDonald
McDonald is a defenseman who Brière liked for a couple of seasons. He’s mentioned him on a few occasions when speaking about defensive prospects. Naturally, during the 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, McDonald had the spotlight on him. It was an audition of sorts for the NHL.
It’s an encouraging sign to see McDonald at the 2025 Development Camp. He and Gill were chippy at moments, which is lovely to see. Each of those defensive prospects had the floor while Oliver Bonk recovered from a lingering shoulder injury.
Dennis Gilbert and Egor Zamula represent the depth in front of McDonald, who will compete for that recall from the Phantoms with Emil Andrae.
Carson Bjarnason
Bjarnason was the only goaltender at the 2025 Development Camp who was drafted and signed by Philadelphia.
That should tell you the state of the goaltending depth. Bjarnason is going to develop in Lehigh Valley, likely accompanied by Ivan Fedotov.
Devin Kaplan
Kaplan, like Luchanko and Dorwart, did make his NHL debut last season. That was against the Buffalo Sabres, and he recorded a hit.
He has an outside chance to make the opening night roster, too. That depends on Martone and Bump, but Kaplan does have a hint of NHL experience. Typically, Kaplan plays RW. There’s potential flexibility with Owen Tippett to play either wing.
His road in 2025-2026, most likely, starts with the Phantoms.
